title: Purification and characterization of a novel beta-agarase from Vibrio sp. AP-2.
abstract: beta-Agarase was purified from the culture fluid of a porphyran-decomposing marine bacterium (strain AP-2) by ammonium sulfate precipitation, successive column chromatography and DNase and RNase treatment. The final enzyme preparation appeared to be homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 20 kDa, a pH optimum of 5.5, and was stable in the pH region 4.0-9.0 and at temperatures below 45 degrees C. The beta-agarase was a novel endo-type enzyme which hydrolyzed neoagarotetraose, larger neoagarooligosaccharides and agar to give neoagarobiose [3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactopyranosyl-(1----3)-D-galactose] as the predominant product. The enzyme did not act on kappa-carrageenan. According to the criteria of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, the strain was assigned to the genus Vibrio.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitamikado
mesh_terms: D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D014733:Vibrio / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C019624:agarase